Stephen Strasburg hit .277 with a home run, four doubles and seven RBI.

The first major award of Stephen Strasburg's big-league career was not for anything he did on the pitcher's mound. Instead, it's for what he did in the batter's box.

Strasburg tonight won the Silver Slugger Award, deemed as the best offensive pitcher in the National League by managers and coaches, who also gave the award to Nationals teammates Ian Desmond and Adam LaRoche for their offensive performances at shortstop and first base.

LaRoche joins Zimmerman as a dual Silver Slugger and Gold Glove award winner and becomes the seventh NL first baseman ever to win both awards in the same season, joining Keith Hernandez (1980,Read more »

Feel Wood said… If Mr. Cortisone had shown up three or four weeks sooner, they would have had four.This is very interesting and i think its true. Anyone else wanna chime in?Either, way, congrats to the 3 winners!

A full season of health should do it in 2013. I predict a career year for Ryan Zimmerman. Our offense in general is just going to kill it. Feeling optimistic , rosy and all fuzzy inside. Go Nats. I miss you all . ( tear, sob)

NatsJack in Florida said… Gonat…. If he gets anything more than 3 at $30 Mil, I'll be suprised. November 08, 2012 5:46 PM ___________________________________I thought 2 years for $25 million but you could be right that he is looking at a slight decrease to get a multi-year deal which could make him attractive to mid and small market teams.

MicheleS said… Umm.. where is the Fire Eck crowd now? November 08, 2012 7:01 PM __________________________________Not only did they disappear in August but they are now talking about him being the best in the NL East.

I am nowhere near as excited about awards for last year as I am for what is going to happen this off-season and next year. Lets sign Davey & LaRoche. Take care of the starting pitcher. Extend Zimmermann & Desmond and do a little work with the bullpen. I mean, what the heck are they paying Rizzo for anyway??? (Hi Mike, that was just a joke).By the way, if you want to add Upton, I am really ok with that as well.

sjm308 said… By the way, if you want to add Upton, I am really ok with that as well. November 08, 2012 8:48 PM _______________________________The GM for the Rangers (Daniels) said he's not giving up Profar and their #2 Minor Leaguer + others for JUpton.I think as more GMs go public with what AZ is asking the price will come down.Very similar to the ridiculous demands Tampa had for BJUpton last year and all teams said NO.

AZ has Upton under control for 3 years. If they can't get what they want, they will simply hold on to him I suppose. However, AZ still needs to fill their SS and 3B needs and I won't be surprised if Texas became their partners with Olt as centerpiece.

•The Rangers aren't willing to include either Elvis Andrus or Jurickson Profar in a deal for Upton, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports (Twitter link), which will likely end trade talks between Texas and Arizona.Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/#DqpVKmRBCDbVxtOl.99

The D'Backs would take a "good young starter" as the "centerpiece" of an Upton trade, tweets David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Other players would obviously also be involved_____________________________________Key words "centerpiece and "other players would obviously also be involved" Sounds to me they are looking for several impact players.

Laddie Blah Blah said… Rizzo's pugnacious style may have cost him Exec of the Year.Nah. Billy Beane took way more lemons and turned them into lemonade than Rizzo did. Plus, Brad Pitt would never play Rizzo in a movie.

Faraz Shaikh said… AZ has Upton under control for 3 years. If they can't get what they want, they will simply hold on to him I suppose. However, AZ still needs to fill their SS and 3B needs and I won't be surprised if Texas became their partners with Olt as centerpiece. November 08, 2012 9:10 PM ________________________________Their big holes are 3rd and they could probably use a SS and help for the bench in OF and C and the bullpen and could always upgrade their starters. Ian Kennedy really let them down in 2012 after a Cy Young type of year in 2011. They have some good players in their own farm system but they could be looking for excess to make addtional trades.

Dryw Loves the Nats said…Oh, this award stuff is fun! (Next season will be more fun, but I'll take what I can get in November…)November 08, 2012 9:33 PMAmen to that! And, God willing, we'll have Stras for a whole season. No shutdown!!!

Justin Upton will cost too much, likely one high-quality young starter, two top-tier prospects and a filler. If we have to have an Upton, B.J. will be just a little less quality for a whole lot less cost. Here is what the outfield should look like next year if all are healthy:LF–Morse: .285-30-90CF–Harper: .285-25-90 (RBI's assume middle of the order)RF–Jayson Werth: .275-20-60 (assumes leadoff)Morse's relative defense liability in left will be mitigated by five outstanding starters. I just don't see how adding an Upton brother or Bourn et. al. makes the team that much better in 2013.Regarding LaRoche, each additional post-season award ups his cost. I'd be willing to go 2-years/$21 million with a $13 million option for '15 based on performance in the first two years.But if they can't sign him, I'd rather keep Morse in left. Going from Adam Dunn to Adam LaRoche reminded me how important a good glove at first is. Put Dunn at first in 2012 and I doubt the team wins 93 games.Farid @ Idaho

I would rather see Morse stay in left and put Tyler Moore at first. He has the offense part down and plays first well — better than Morse and with a high ceiling. He won't be ALR. Who would be? But he can develop into a great First baseman. Of course, my first choice would be keeping Adam.

Farid, you are right about JUpton but the price will come down. Teams are exposing what the asking price is and AZ is nuts but it doesn't hurt to ask as someone may roll over and give them close to what they are asking. On BJUpton, I think that ship sailed and his clubhouse rep has been called in question. When a team is as close as the Nats are to winning it all, not a good time to chance the chemistry IMO.

I actually agree with the choice of Bean. I thought Rizzo would walk away with this but if you think about it, drafting Harper and Strasburg was not really rocket science (although signing them might have been a little tricky). Bean probably did more with less and second in this case is not horrible. I am not an Orioles fan at all but I was surprised that their guy did not get one vote. I think that they were probably the biggest long-shot to make the playoffs of all the teams that ended up there.

From Kilgore:Boras also represents Ryan Madson, a closer coming off Tommy John surgery whom he may push on the Nationals. “I think they have an opportunity this offseason to build their bullpen,” Boras said. “I think they have an opportunity to really create some strengths where there were weaknesses, because the free agent market allows them to do that. The perception of the Washington Nationals, the revenues, it’s a great thing for the game.”

Ghost Of Steve M. said… Don't be surprised if Boras talks Riz into Madson. November 07, 2012 10:16 AM __________________________________As I posted at 10:37 from Kilgore I'm wondering if you have are in the meetings!

"I'm in no rush," D-backs GM Kevin Towers said on Thursday. "I can't give you timelines. If somebody decides they want to knock your door down and they really want the player, then they can speed things up. I think it's less likely something happens sooner rather than later, if it happens at all. Our sights are set pretty high on what it would take, and if nobody meets what we're looking for — and we'd like to address a couple of different areas — if nobody meets it, then we stay status quo and keep him. We're a good team with him."

@unknown I agree our outfield is fine without any additions, but i think your averages are a little off, morse the last couple years has hit between .280-.290 when healthy (you got that right) but i can easily see werth repeat last year and hit .300+ with an obp of .380+ and harper if you use the last 44 games of the season as an indicator can hit around .320-.340 next year maybe he has figured out the trick to hitting in the mlb but he sure ended well.

Peric, with each hit Rendon gets in the AFL there grows more and more people thinking an alternative of Rendon to 3rd and Zim to 1st if the Nats don't re-sign LaRoche.I guess we will see but this went from blasphemous type of talk to hitting more the mainstream as a distant possibility.

Joe Seamhead said… Has anybody, and I mean anybody, heard one representative of the Nationals give one hint of one iota of any thought of moving Ryan to 1B anytime soon? I consider all such talk to be poppycock if his surgery was successful. I've not heard one word from anybody about moving an all-star caliber, face of the franchise, third baseman Zimmerman to first base anywhere other then on this board. Now, if, [and it's a big "if"], his throwing problems persist in spring training, and Mr. Rendon shows that he can't be kept down, then there is a remote possibility of it happening. At this point it is nothing but fantasy league poppycock in my opinion.

Faraz Shaikh said… so have you guys read that Anibal wants six years, $90 million contract? Who is up for that? Not me. November 09, 2012 7:22 AM _________________________________That makes no sense and doubt he gets it. He should take a shorter deal and show he is a #1 or #2. His ERA says he is a #3 with a 3.70's ERA. That seems to be paying $8 to $12 million a year.Sanchez's metrics got slightly worse going from Miami to Detroit.

Someone like Sanchez could actually do well with a one or two year deal. Show greatness and then cash in. Still young enough. We could be the place where that happens.? Come on over and drink the Nats Koolaid .

it seems Rizzo is willing to let his players including SS participate in WBC. Could be interesting to see Harper and SS play next to Trout and Jeter among others. Could be loads of fun rooting for team USA.

If Mr. Cortisone had shown up three or four weeks sooner, they would have had four.And if he moves to first base there might no be any morbidity concerns associated with cortisone shots. Lots of papers on the detrimental effects associated with continual use. Then you get a new silver slugger as the fourth: Anthony Rendon.

Has anybody, and I mean anybody, heard one representative of the Nationals give one hint of one iota of any thought of moving Ryan to 1B anytime soon? I consider all such talk to be poppycock if his surgery was successful. I've not heard one word from anybody about moving an all-star caliber, face of the franchise, third baseman Zimmerman to first base Well since poppycock is mostly what you know when it comes to baseball.Ladson did report that the FO were indeed seriously considering this as an option. Doh! Homer Seamhead!PLUS they moved third baseman Matt Skole to first base so that Anthony Rendon could play third base in the AFL. Rather than moving Rendon to second or even shortstop as it is said he is capable of managing both positions. PLUS three injury marked years for Zimmerman and then there's the throwing issue.Okay Mr. Poopycock?

stop crowning him as future triple crown. he hasn't had a single at bat above AA and haven't played long enough at AA either. let him play injury free in one full season before making any more predictions.

If they go for Upton there's no room for Rendon, Goodwin, etc.It ain't going to happen. Give it a rest. Its neither smart from the baseball perspective nor from a financial perspective. And both are in play given the Nats issues with MASN and Angelos. You have to consider both and exclude neither.

stop crowning him as future triple crown. he hasn't had a single at bat above AA and haven't played long enough at AA either. let him play injury free in one full season before making any more predictions.Stop being an idiot and open your eyes. He is a better hitter than Harper is. He is older and has a more refined approach at the plate. His glove excels above most players. Faraz Poopycock if you play Harper at 19 for almost an entire season? And you leave a player that could be better in the minors? Poopcock dude. Pure plain and simple.

Why do you draft and develop young players? Some you will trade, of course. But what percentage? I thought the whole idea of having a great minor league system was to have a constant pipeline of talent that is under team control. Then you sprinkle in some free agent veterans. Right? So then it just figures that most if these young guys should end up on the major league roster. Either that or you become the Phillies and have a highly paid roster of aging former stars. An embarrassment of riches.

swami:I'm with you on 1B and 5th SP:–1B: first choice, re-sign ALR; second choice, TyMo; third choice, move Morse and get an OF–Sanibel is getting bad advice from his agent: 6 yrs./$90m?? Get real. 1-2 yrs. at $10m per.

baseballswami, bullseye! I dont think you can trade away the future too often. The Gio trade took 4 top prospects and you can live with that trade. I don't think you can do it again unless it netted you the last piece to the puzzle like King Felix. JUpton is not the last piece of the puzzle.

RA Dickey seems to be available, just like I predicted. We should pull a Gio-like trade to get him. What a staff we'd have! I'm drooling! Imagine facing Dickey after Strass, and then Gio, then Zimm and then Det. O.M.G!

Turned on the MLB Network special last night and they were yammering on about several NL players who were not Nats. Turned to something else but did have the DVR set. May need to speed-watch it, after all. Congrats to all (wow, three!) of our Sluggers of Silver.

Kilgore suggested in yesterday's column that if ALR walks, the Nats should move Morse to 1B and put TyMo in LF. That puts two players out of position.Could Morse's shortcomings in LF be mitigated at 1B?Why not leave Morse in LF and put TyMo at 1B?

ah peric, just a matter of time before you called someone an idiot.Until Rendon plays a full season injury free he is nothing more then a potential piece of the team. True his injuries may have been freaky but so were Nick Johnson's and we see how that turned out. You don't rearrange the infield for this guy – yet. 20 games in the Arizona league does not an all star make.

These free agent salary demands are getting ridiculous. ALR has at least three other teams chasing him, maybe more. He's not going to sign with the Nationals for $11-12 million for two years with a third year option. That's what Rizzo is probably willing to give. He's going to end up getting an Adam Dunn type contract, $14 million per year for three or four years. I say, let him walk and take the draft pick. He's off a career year which is unlikely to be repeated and he's 33. We already are saddled with the really bad Werth contract. Move Morse to first base, Harper to LF and give the CF job to Bernadina. Forget Moore in LF, his arm is way too weak and he's a real liability defensively.

SCNats–agree. The AZ fall league and spring training are not the best time to evaluate prospects. The boys are tired, even though they get every other day off and have had a month break. Some of them are at 160 games by now, pretty stretched. From watching the Rising Stars game–the best of the AFL, presumably–I saw that the competition is a very mixed bag. Rendon may have an advantage because he is simply more rested than a lot of the guys, having only played 43 games in 2012 (only 21 at AA).

The fact of the matter is that when ALR gets an offer for a contract from another team, he will come to the nationals and say here is what the other team offer are you willing to match it, and at that point its up to the nationals, but ALR is not going to walk unless the nats let him

When I hear it out of Rizzo's mouth, or Johnson's that Ryan Zimmerman is moving to 1st base I'll believe it. Until then it's fantasy baseball style speculation. If they resign ALR? Maybe they won't really try to bring him back because a team that won 98 games last year is going to move one of the top third basemen in the game to first and bring up a third basemen with not only virtually no pro ball under his belt, but who is also not shown to be very durable. As to the Ladson claiming to have a source, well like I said, I haven't heard it from a credible source yet.

MicheleS said… NatsLady, dark day for the Nats. Those few days were just bad. And what a year for him. That was just awful. Glad he is rehabbing here. November 09, 2012 9:11 AM ______________________________Hard to believe that was 1 year ago. God Bless Wilson Ramos!

D'Gourds.. not with you on this one. Dickey isn't worth a Gio deal. Plus the Mets are just trying to unload salary, his price might get cheaper in season at the trade deadline.If they are going to do anything with pitching, please do it the free agent route. I do like how Rizzo is keeping his options open and not focusing on one guy – like he did last year with Buerhle. Also glad to see that the Nats are still talking to Sean and Mike G about coming back. We still need a LOOGY or two.

Some random replies:Faraz Shaikh said… so have you guys read that Anibal wants six years, $90 million contract? Who is up for that? Not me. Me: Not me, but this is agent talk. Funny one I heard so far was Jeremy Guthrie wants a three-year, $34 million deal.baseballswami said… I would rather see Morse stay in left and put Tyler Moore at first. He has the offense part down and plays first well — better than Morse and with a high ceiling. He won't be ALR. Who would be? But he can develop into a great First baseman. Of course, my first choice would be keeping Adam. Me: I thought Morse played an above average 1B when he played there. While not in ALR class, I thought he was a much better 1B than he is an OF. I’d rather see Morse at 1B if ALR leaves.MicheleS said… We have entered a brave new world. Post Season Awards for the Nats. 1 Gold Glove (Ian got jobbed) and 3 Silver Sluggers. I expect more of this to come for many years! Me: I know, great times are ahead. I purchased full season tickets for 2013 in hopes of getting a few partners later; no interest yet hopefully after the New Year interest will pick up.D'Gourds said… RA Dickey seems to be available, just like I predicted. We should pull a Gio-like trade to get him. What a staff we'd have! I'm drooling! Imagine facing Dickey after Strass, and then Gio, then Zimm and then Det. O.M.G! Me: Forget this, the Mets would never trade Dickey in the division. They would take less to not face him that many times a year.fast eddie said… Kilgore suggested in yesterday's column that if ALR walks, the Nats should move Morse to 1B and put TyMo in LF. That puts two players out of position.Could Morse's shortcomings in LF be mitigated at 1B?Why not leave Morse in LF and put TyMo at 1B? Me: I agree with this. Morse was a very good 1B when he was here; better than Moore from the little I saw of him there this year. Morse came up as an IF and he was above average there, people forget to quick. Moore is young and would like be better than Morse in LF by the end of spring training.I’m very excited for 2013 and beyond!

The AFL Salt River team has been doing a good job of playing guys in alternating days and only about 3 games a week so rest shouldn't be a big factor with the Nats kids and consider they really don't travel like they do in their MiLB schedule. Plenty of players excel but you also have to know what to look for to evaluate as some players are treating it like Spring Training where they are working on certain parts of their game as mentioned with Goodwin working on bunting and Rendon working on off-speed pitches.Rendon went 2 for 4 yesterday but also hit one to the wall yesterday in CF that was caught according to someone who tweeted it was the hardest hit ball of the game.Rendon is locked in and his stock is up.

You want a LH bat? You could do worse than this guy–Shin-Soo Choo. On the trading block (Cleveland), is a Boras client.Good on-base guy, not a great fielder, though he might be better in LF than in RF–Cleveland needs just about everything. With Franconia as their new manager, they will want to listen for trades.His projected salary for 2013(arb 2) is $8MM. It would be a "rental" as he is a free agent in 2013. What about leaving Harper in center for one more year, and this outfield, Choo-Harper-Werth?

A few tidbits from mlbtraderumors.com:AJC: Braves looking at Denard Span to replace Bourn if/when he leavesAz. Republic: 7 teams looking seriously at J.Upton, NOT including the NatsCSN: Filthies pursuing BJ UptonCBS: Dodgers' top two pitching targets: Kuroda and Sanchez

I like that Peric is thinking outside of the box on Rendon and thinking outside of the box is what Davey is great about. Last year someone suggested prior to Spring Training that Lombo should get work in LF and a few people laughed at that suggestion, and then it happened.You find room for great hitters and Rendon could be in that class whether its 3rd, 2nd, or LF following Davey's plan he had with Lombo. You have to think out of Rendon, Lombo, and Espi only 2 of the 3 will be here long-term and 1 of them will be traded.

fast eddie, I think most teams have moved away from JUpton like the Rangers, Yankees and Nats. The asking price is too high and its become a carnival sideshow.Supposedly the Tigers are going all in for him. Good luck to them!

Gonat.And that is why I leave it to the FO to figure this out. Will Ryan end up at 1b at some point, probably, but do not think it would be in 2013. Do I think Lombo/Espi/Rendon will be here forever, no, one of them will be odd man out at some point.Rendon can hit and from what it sounds like from the Beat guy that is covering the AFL, is that Rendon can hit and is working to improve his fielding. There is probably some rust there and the more reps he gets the better off he will be. The FO will figure out what position he will play.

That was an ordeal, indeed. So grateful when he was freed.Gonat said… MicheleS said… NatsLady, dark day for the Nats. Those few days were just bad. And what a year for him. That was just awful. Glad he is rehabbing here. November 09, 2012 9:11 AM ______________________________ Hard to believe that was 1 year ago. God Bless Wilson Ramos! November 09, 2012 9:13 AM

fast eddie said… Rizzo never reveals much but is openly salivating over the "free agent crop of SPs".Wonder how that makes LannEn feel as he follows the daily rumors from the GM meetings? Me: I'm sure he is fine with it, as he will likely be in the bigs somewhere else rather than eating alone at a Pizza Unos in upper NY…

Faraz Shaikh said…stop crowning him as future triple crown. he hasn't had a single at bat above AA and haven't played long enough at AA either. let him play injury free in one full season before making any more predictions.November 09, 2012 8:11 AMI'm sorry if my posts regarding Mr. Rendon irritated you. However, I do reserve my right to express opinions and make predictions as others do on here, especially when others are wanting to trade a player I think has a chance to be a stud for our team.Having said that, I really don't expect him to be a triple crown winner, as they are very rare. But if he hits for average and power and is consistent, then I am happy with that.Yes, of course he has to prove himself at AA, and maybe AAA, as well as the majors, and he has to be able to stay healthy. That's a given. But in my opinion, he's worth having in our system to reach that potential and I don't want to see him traded…not for anybody.If you feel he should be traded for someone you think is better, I have no objections to your saying so.

I think Rizzo likes to let the first few chips fall to the over- anxious teams and then he moves in on the next tier of players. Buerhle went first, then we scoop up Gio. Soothes their ego at not going first when another team wants them. They go for less and it is not in the spotlight. We'll see.

I have heard an important Nats official say that they were thinking about moving Ryan to first down the road, when Rendon is ready to start. That is why they do not want to give ALR a three year deal. I agree that it is a bit early to talk about such a move for this spring.

NI Watcher said… I have heard an important Nats official say that they were thinking about moving Ryan to first down the road, when Rendon is ready to start.Since no one here knows who the hell you are, and since no one can trace you from here, there is no reason you cannot reveal the name and/or position of this "important Nats official" you overheard. Otherwise, you're just blowing smoke like peric. Although I think he inhales more than he blows, actually.

I agree that "down the road" is a possibility, maybe even a probability, as far as RZ moving to 1B, but I see it as later rather then sooner. If his shoulder is OK after his recent surgery , and if he can make the throw to first, he is an elite 3rd baseman playing at a much more difficult position to be elitist at then 1B.I'm crazy about Rendon's potential, but I'm not seeing him moving RZ out of 3B for a while. Peric, I will never be as knowledgeable about baseball as you are in your own mind, where you are a legend. I accept that.

baseballswami said… Just got a notification on my phone from ESPN saying Davey is close to signing a contract. Didn't 't we hear this yesterday? November 09, 2012 10:39 AM I think its done. Just waiting for the Nats to officially announce it.Very exciting!

Based on what I read here, I'm buying all the Rendon hype. I know he's been mentioned at 2B.Assuming Zimm's shoulder issues are resolved, doesn't that make more sense, especially if Espi struggles at the plate? Re-sign ALR, give Rendon a year at AAA, bring him up in 2014 or sooner if he's tearing it up.

Ken Rosenthal now linking the Nats as a rumored possibility with Josh Hamilton. I really don't see that happening but is certainly a good divergence to send messages to Arizona and to LaRoche.In J-Upton news, sounds like Towers has to get more reasonable on what he wants and nobody is really buying his motivations on why he would consider trading his best outfielder especially after trading his CF Chris Young.From MLBTR: Though the Diamondbacks are said to be looking for a third baseman, shortstop or starter in a Justin Upton trade and the Red Sox have several young players at those positions, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe doesn't think the Red Sox would part with any of their young core at this time. I would take from that Rendon at 3rd, Espi at Short, a young starter from the Minors is what they really need even though their initial strategy was ask for a major blockbuster, no team was biting. I guess you can ask for whatever you want and then negotiate back to a lesser point as there was no way Rizzo would do that other deal. The Nats do have young bullpen arms and young up and coming pitchers. In my opinion, giving up just Espi and Rendon is still a lot to ask if it was just a 2 for 1 trade but I think most people would do that but not sure if I would part with Rendon just like Texas doesn't want to do that with Profar.

fast eddie said… Just heard that Swisher is looking for a "Jayson Werth-type contract", 7 yrs/$126m.I don't know his career stats, but that shocks me.Can he be comparable to Werth in value? November 09, 2012 11:20 AM Someone needs to drug test him for heroin because he is whacked out of his frickin mind!

fast eddie said… Based on what I read here, I'm buying all the Rendon hype. I know he's been mentioned at 2B.Assuming Zimm's shoulder issues are resolved, doesn't that make more sense, especially if Espi struggles at the plate? Re-sign ALR, give Rendon a year at AAA, bring him up in 2014 or sooner if he's tearing it up. November 09, 2012 11:18 AM The hype was real on Rendon the day he was drafted. When your Rice Owl coach Wayne Graham says that Rendon is the best hitter he ever had and you look back to see who he coached over the years that's saying a lot especially when he had Lance Berkman.Rendon has just needed to stay healthy and he is showing that sweet swing in the AFL.My prediction tells me that Rendon will be up in June and possibly earlier -if- we see him playing other positions this Spring. If they keep him at 3rd, it should tell us that we will see him in September.I do believe that the signing or non-signing of LaRoche will probably trigger the position switch. If Rendon stays at 3rd, I would say a good chance Rendon will be the 2014 starting 3rd baseman and Zim will be moved to 1st. I said that halfway tongue in cheek when they drafted Rendon but did consider a position change or him dangled as trade bait.

fast eddie said… Ghost:So, you think Rendon will play 3B and not be tried out this spring or AAA at 2B? November 09, 2012 11:51 AM I think if LaRoche is signed to a multi-year deal obviously Zim stays at 3rd and Rendon will get time at either other positions (2nd/LF) or traded and that's Rizzo's call.2nd base makes the most sense for a top 3rd baseman to adjust to and like baseballswami says there's a logjam there right now with Espi and Lombo.

Since no one here knows who the hell you are, and since no one can trace you from here, there is no reason you cannot reveal the name and/or position of this "important Nats official" you overheard. Otherwise, you're just blowing smoke like peric. I wasn't aware this was a closed board. I have been reading assiduously, so I feel a member of this virtual community, although I have not previously posted. I am a friend of a person high in Nats management but I would never betray his confidences by mentioning his name or quoting him here on the record. If you care not to credit what I say, that is your right. But no need to blow me out of the water for it. In any event, what Ghost just said is exactly in line with what this person said to me. Tying up ALR for three or more years hampers the possibility of playing Rendon at 3rd when he is ready to start.

NI Watcher, I think its a common sense approach that the wheels go in motion when ALR's Nats future is finalized.Many teams have phenoms blocked and usually it results in a trade when its a position player that they don't think a position change will work.

NI Watcher said… In any event, what Ghost just said is exactly in line with what this person said to me. Tying up ALR for three or more years hampers the possibility of playing Rendon at 3rd when he is ready to start. November 09, 2012 12:12 PM Thanks for that and my sources I check in with don't include Bill Ladson by the way. (insert humor)This has been the team's thought pattern since last season to keep Rendon at his natural position until another need arises.I think Placido Polanco is the perfect comparison that Rendon will be able to play both positions 2nd/3rd if needed but the logjam at 2nd would then be left to trading one of those players or moving one of them back to the Minors.They say its a good problem when you have too many players. I guess we will see!

Gonat said… I like that Peric is thinking outside of the box on Rendon and thinking outside of the box is what Davey is great about. Last year someone suggested prior to Spring Training that Lombo should get work in LF and a few people laughed at that suggestion, and then it happened. November 09, 2012 9:26 AM Yes, I made the Lombo suggestion last year and it wasn't greeted with enthusiastic comments.

I wasn't aware this was a closed board. I have been reading assiduously, so I feel a member of this virtual community, although I have not previously posted. I am a friend of a person high in Nats management but I would never betray his confidences by mentioning his name or quoting him here on the record.Again, this is the internet. No one knows who you are, and for all we know a person "high in Nats management" could be a janitor stoned out of his mind in the owner's suite. So until you can add some information to establish credibility, you're just blowing smoke like everyone else here. And that includes Ghost.

What about the idea (which has been mentioned before) of front-loading ALR's offer? Let's say the Red Sox offer him 3/14 with an option for a fourth year. The Nats can say, how about 2/18? Yes, that is leaving $6MM guaranteed on the table, but he is working one less year. He would still only be 35 and could get that money in the AL as a DH if he is healthy and wants it. The downside (from the Nats view) is that if the Nats want to trade him in July of 2014, say, because Rendon is tearing it up and RZ needs to go to 1B, they would have to eat some salary. But it hedges our bets just in case Rendon is not all we think he is, or gets injured, or whatever. Bottom line is, I don't want to put too much hope in Rendon when you have a proven guy in LaRoche.

and what does the police mean by 'not necessarily assaulted'? did they not bother to check?The guy didn't tell anyone he was assaulted until he got home. Police did not find out until later. That's what they are doing now, bothering to check. But it doesn't happen in a tight 60 minute time frame like on those TV shows you watch.